Accessible to
beginnersand meaty enough for experienced writers, this workshop will show
you how to use dialogue to make your stories more dynamic and dramatic.Whether you’re writing fiction or memoir, you need
to be able to write great dialogue that both sounds natural and packs dramatic
punch, and you need to know how to mix your dialogue and narrative so that your
characters come alive. Come to this workshop and learn both the basics and
the best tricks of the trade.

If you want to write the next
best-selling children’s books or
just want to create stories for your own kids, this workshop is for you. Learn
how to write stories kids and young adults will love and find out what you need
to know to sell your book.

Special option:You
may, but don't have to, bring 3 copies of the opening couple pages (first 500
words) of your children’s book or young adult novel (or 1,000 words if that
will get you to the end of your picture book or to the end of your first chapter.)
If you’re not currently working on a children’s story, don’t worry, we’ll get
you started on the spot!

Guest speaker Monica Pacheco is
a literary agent with the McDermid Agency. The McDermid agency represents literary novelists
and commercial novelists of high quality and writers of nonfiction in the areas
of memoir, biography, history, literary travel, narrative science,
investigative journalism, popular culture and lifestyle. The agency also
represents children's and young adult (YA) writers and writers in the fields of
science fiction and fantasy.

Have you ever considered writing your
memoirs or family history? This workshop will introduce you to the
tricks and conventions of telling true stories and will show you how to use the
techniques of the novel to recount actual events. Whether you want to write for
your family or for a wider public, don't miss this workshop.

Workshop leader Brian Henry has
been a book editor and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He
teaches at Ryerson University and has led workshops everywhere from Boston to
Buffalo and from Sarnia to Saint John. He publishes Quick Brown
Fox, Canada’s most popular blog for writers and is the author of a
children’s version of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (Tribute
Publishing). But his proudest boast is that he’s helped many of his students get
published.

Brian Henry has been a book editor, writer, and creative writing instructor for more than 25 years. He teaches creative writing at Ryerson University. He also leads weekly creative writing courses in Burlington, Mississauga, Oakville and Georgetown and conducts Saturday workshops throughout Ontario. His proudest boast is that he has helped many of his students get published.